Modern Sex Magick: Secrets of Erotic Spirituality

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but sort of dull
Review: "Modern Sex Magick" by DM Kraig contains a great deal of useful information and techniques. The chapters are set up logically, beginning with monfocal sex magic and proceeding to polyfocal opererations. There's even a section on bondage and sadomasochism. The sections by three female practitioners are a good balance to Kraig's style of writng. And it is this style that is the book's main debility. Kraig burdens the book with so many qualifications and concessions to political correctness that he actually makes the subject of sex magick seem kind of boring. After the tenth description of the same idea with a new variation, one enters an intellectual coma, rather than wanting to experience a state of "erotocomatose lucidity". The other objection is the minimalization of Crowley's contribution to this area. This feels like reading a book on classical music that leaves out Beethoven. The most interesting part of the book (apart from the guest contributers) is the totally speculative section on Jewish sex magick and the "hidden secrets of the Golden Dawn". This section, however, suffers just as much from Kraig's milktoast writing style as the rest of the book. However, if one is patient enough to bear this, "Modern Sex Magick" is a very good introduction to a realm of magick which is generally left out of the mainstream. Provisionally reccomended.

Rating:
Summary: Very good beginner's guide -- covers a lot of ground
Review: Although the cover makes promises that the book doesn't deliver on, and despite the cover's cheesy graphic, this book is great for anyone starting out in Magick. Even if you're not spiring to be a sex magickian, the information is useful and Kraig points out that even the non-sexual practicioner would benefit greatly just from the experience of experimenting with it. Be forewarned that some of the historical data Kraig suggests is questionable, and there are some assertions made about the OTO which I am uncertain about the accuracy of. But it is definitely refreshing to see an author writing so extensively about sex magick who is somewhat familiar with systems such as the Golden Dawn and OTO. He also is very clear about the differences between Tantra and Sex Magick, which puts Kraig miles ahead of many current writers on the subject. To boot, there's a chapter on BDSM Sex Magick! Woohoo!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Sex Magick Book
Review: As the owner of a Sex Magick forum, and a Sex Magick Practioner for many years, I HIGHLY recommend Modern Sex Magick : Secrets of Erotic Spirituality by Donald Michael Kraig. The book is concise, very easy to read and understand, written with objectivity and vast knowledge and the one of the best things is~~the rituals REALLY WORK. Three Thumbs Up! Raziel

Rating:
Summary: Sublime experience
Review: Don Kraig's balanced and informative book is required reading for anyone seriously interested in the fascinating topic of sex magick (note the final Crowleyan `k' ). Be warned, though, that this is not sex as we know it, but a sublime experience in which eroticism and spirituality are magnificently fused. Kraig's is the best guide yet to the
highest and most powerful form of magic there is, which also easily the most fun to do. A book that goes splendidly against the grain of two millennia of christian-patriarchal indoctrination.

Rating:
Summary: More complicated than it needs to be
Review: Frankly, Sex Magick is much simpler than this book would have us believe. Masturbate to enter an altered state of consciousness over a Sigil. Have extended periods of sex to accomplish the same goal. Simple, no? And, guess what? That's all this book says, as practical information goes. The rest is conjecture, faulty history or useless anecdote specifically there to make you impressed.

Rating:
Summary: Cold, dry, boring and bossy does not good sexmagick make.
Review: I am very impressed with this book! I found "Modern Sex Magick" very difficult to put-down. I am a little surprised that certain sections are espoused as more controversial than others (e.g., Polyamorous Sex Magick being more controversial than Homosexual Sex Magick)--however, society is weird like that.... Regardless, the material in this book would be quite useful to nearly anyone--not just Magickians or sex magick practitioners.

Personally, I learned a lot about Sex Magick from this individual's research of the subject. The author helps dispel many of the rumors and much of the disinformation about the practice of sex magick. I did not read about the subject for many years, due to misinformation from an organization I formerly studied with (and the silly claims against Sex Magick, in the back of the original "Light of Egypt" books associated with that organization), so this subject is new to me--although "Sex" and "Magick" separately are quite familiar subjects.

Considering the fact that I have experienced some indoctrination against the practice of Sex Magick, I truly enjoyed the author's honest, helpful attempt to reveal the truth about Sex Magick and also give other perspectives (e.g., from various women involved in the practice), by including essays from other practitioners, instead of just espousing one theory or perspective on the subject.

I found the rituals to mostly follow the same, basic format, but the book is very interesting and very informative--especially, for a person just beginning to research this system of Magick. The book is well-illustrated, comprehensive and full of common sense applications of different styles of Sex Magick (including safe explanations and illustrations of S&M practices). It is obvious that the author made a great effort to fully explain the material, instead of leaving the safety of the reader in question.

Having previously studied much in the areas of; sex, magick, polyamorous relationships, etc., I had to give this book a good review and will also place it on my "Polyamory, "Open Relationships" & New Age Sexuality" Listmania list.

I also recommend this book to Thelemites.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: It is distressing to see how many people are fooled into believing that one can awaken consciousness in a healthy way through lust and desire. This method clearly contradicts the teachings of Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Tsong Khapa, the current Dalai Lama, etc. I encourage anyone who is seeking positive spiritual enlightenment to look at the teachings of these Masters, along with others who proved the virtuous sincerity of their hearts: Eliphas Levi, Swami Sivananda, Dion Fortune, Rudolf Steiner, H.P. Blavatsky, and Samael Aun Weor. Do not be misled by the tempting serpent; to awaken positively, you must CONQUER him.

Rating:
Summary: good intro to Western Sex Magick
Review: Kraig's book is the best introduction to Western Sex Magick I have read. In fact, I think it is one of the best books on magick, period. He cuts through all the jive and gibberish and gets down to cases about magickal practice. His writing is straghtforward, clear, and easy to read.

He discusses the history of Western Sex Magick (WSM) early in the book, and I find his grasp of this history to be interesting and enlightening. Considering the great deal of obfuscation, ego trips, and other impediments to a clear transmission of knowledge in these areas, I find his work to be refreshing and practical. He is not elitist, didactic, or sectarian in his approach, and discusses difficult subjects such as the use of S&M in magick openly and honestly.

This is not a tour de force of all magick, nor is it intended to be. It is a good introduction to the use of erotic energy in magickal/spiritual practice from a primarily Western standpoint. Tantra and Taoist practices are mentioned as they relate to these practices, but are not the focus of the book. There is a nice glossary and a seven page Bibliography, in addition to the other resources mentioned throughout the text.

Someone with experience in other areas of magick seeking to add erotic energy to their current practices would find this book helpful. I don't know that I would consider this an entry-level book for magick in general. Having explored various practices for over 30 years, I find it difficult to approach these things as a complete beginner, although I am by no means an expert. My experiences tend to agree with his. I am comfortable with Kraig's ideas, and my "inner compass" leads me to trust him. I liked the book, and while I didn't agree with everything in it, found it to have a high proportion of useful information.

Of course, all the usual caveats apply. As with all powerful technologies, one must understand and respect one's tools in order to use them safely. (no humor intended)

Rating:
Summary: Real secrets of magick exposed.
Review: This is the first book to take the very confusing subject of sex magick and spell it out in simple terms. It makes sex magick a practical and useable system. If you have ever wanted to know the so-called secret of the 9th degree, buy this book. It will lead you down that path. The book is easy to understand, and takes a topic that has always been talked about in veiled coded launguage and explains it in a manner that anyone can understand and use.
This is a book that the secret orders does not want you to read. Even if you have never studied magick you can use this book. This is a great book. A fine peice of lititure.

Rating:
Summary: Is Modern BLACK Sex Magic...
Review: White Tantra seeks to conquer the demons we have inside, as opposed to enslaving ourselves to them. White Tantra ALWAYS teaches to RENOUNCE animal desire. This is how one becomes a purified soul, a Mahatma, an angel, an illuminated Master: these types of people have no lust, no desire, and are not controlled by animal instinct. How could an angel have lust? How could an angel have pride? To become an Illuminated Soul, we must remove all that is impure from the soul. Books and schools that teach how to awaken through lust, through the orgasm, through desire, are teaching BLACK TANTRA: they are teaching humanity how to awaken as Black Magicians. The purified soul has removed all animal instinct and pride, lust, fear, jealousy, attachment, etc. By stumilating and feeding lust we only deepen our slavery to sensation and animal desire, thus increasing our karma and our suffering. White Sexual Magic is the pure sexual activity of the Djinns, of the Angels, the Buddhas - for God creates through sex. BE CLEAR: we create through our use of sex, but we can create either an Angel or a Demon. For more information, read "The Perfect Matrimony," "The Revolution of Beelzebub," and "The Mysteries of the Fire" by Samael Aun Weor.